The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Chronicles: Art & Design explores and celebrates the creative vision of the second film in Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson’s trilogy adaptation of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.

This lavish volume follows Bilbo, Gandalf and Thorin’s Company of Dwarves eastward, through hitherto unseen regions of Middle-earth, on their quest to reclaim the lost realm of Erebor from the Dragon Smaug.

Exploring the design and development of the environments, cultures, creatures and artefacts encountered by the characters, its 224 pages are filled with more than 1,000 stunning images of conceptual art, supplementary photographs and detailed commentary provided by the film’s cast and crew.

The book showcases art by the film’s concept art directors Alan Lee and John Howe, alongside work by other artists from:

Weta Workshop

Weta Digital

3 Foot 7 Art Department

3 Foot 7 Costume Department

3 Foot 7 Make-up Department

It truly is a unique opportunity to see artwork by a wide range of artists across a multitude of disciplines in the film-making community of Wellington, New Zealand and to hear directly from them about the inspiration behind their work.

In addition to artist quotes, cast members reflect on the work and share insights into their involvement in the design process.

The book includes an introduction by The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’s concept art director Alan Lee and a foreword by the film's set decorator Ra Vincent.

As a bonus feature, unique to this book, there is a special fold-out replica of the portrait of the Master of Lake-town, played by Stephen Fry, exactly as it appears in the film.

Compiled by Weta Workshop senior concept designer Daniel Falconer, this is the third book in The Hobbit Chronicles series and it has been created in full collaboration with key members of the production’s creative team to ensure the most comprehensive and authentic film companion possible.

The new book follows hot on the heels of the previous two books in Weta's series:

SIGNED BOOKS and Dragon's Gold are now SOLD OUT.

Product Reviews

Most useful user reviews

FithSelok19/12/13Weta Collector

ANOTHER wonderful book

My ONLY complaint is on the artist signatures, I have no idea... Read more.

My ONLY complaint is on the artist signatures, I have no idea which 4 artists signed my book. Going past that complaint, another awesome book for my collection. superb shipping. Crisp pages. I kinda wanted a bit more of Smaug in the book though, but no huge deal on what WAS placed in there. Anxious for the next installment of hobbit books: cloaks and daggers. Keep up the awesome work weta. Hide.

1 of 1 people found this useful.

jmparelli26/12/13Weta Collector

Fantastic

I absolutely love this book however would like to know who signed... Read more.

I absolutely love this book however would like to know who signed them. The quality of the work meets the very high standard of Weta and exceeded my expectations :) Hide.

0 of 0 people found this useful.

Jarv0131/12/13Weta Collector

Amazing as always :)

Loving this book!!!
As an artist and Tattoo Artist myself this holds an... Read more.

Loving this book!!!
As an artist and Tattoo Artist myself this holds an extra fascination as I can pull apart the designs and see how they come together and the train of thought.
Signed by four WETA artist I have Daniel Falconer, Nicholas Keller, Paul Tobin but the fourth eludes me. It's a Gary though though (I think lol)
Outstanding work and book as always. Thank you WETA :D Hide.